A bee in my Bronze age bonnet

[Steve F]

Bezzo, here are some more suggestions for your reading list:

Frances Pryor (again) Britain BC - as well as being a good summary of mid-2000s understanding of the archaeology, Pryor makes some fun connections between known bronze age practices and technologies and Arthurian legend, which should get your creative juices flowing.  Pryor does a lot of general books (and TV appearances), but his own specialist field is bronze age fenland.

Michael Parker Pearson Bronze Age Britain - part of an English Heritage series.  Lots of useful pictures, including reconstructions.

Barry Cunliffe (ed) Prehistoric Europe: An Illustrated History - a very useful general account from the doyen of iron age archaeology, despite the oxymoronic title.

[inkydave]

Thanks steve

Francis Pryor is a hero in my eyes. Erudite and informative and a good advocate for history in general (despite having a beard which needs trimming).

   
and he tried to pre-flavour the sheep on his farm by feeding them mint!!!  A proper British eccentric

[Emir of Askaristan]

Ok...so plenty background for you now then?
Let see some scenario's nicely photographed figures and a decent after action report eh?
 

What figures are you using? Foundry? Or the larger Jim Bowen range from monolith?

[swiftnick]

I did write a big long post last night regarding various scenarios but due to a poor internet connection it keeps timing out.
A few years ago I visited the Archaeological Museum in Copenhagen where there was a wonderful display of Bronze age weapons and boats. The display had an illustrated book which to my regret I didn't buy. Perhaps one of our Danish members could get more details for you.
http://www.vikingtoday.com/articles/2008/20080415.htm

[dm]

It would be a great period to game and like others have mentioned the early Irish Myths could be a great source of imformation for gaming scenarios and describe heroic warfare which seems to have a similair feel to those of Homer, even though these Myths may relate to much later times.

In archaeological terms the period in Western Europe saw people carving up the land and the division of land, eithier being grabbed up by powerful individuals or tribes. Ok, it's pre-history but a lot can be gained from the archaeological record if you know where to look.

It saw a proto arms race in the tems of the development of rapiers, spears, daggers, swords and axes all made in bronze (those that have argued for bronze axes of the period being used for tree felling...try cutting a tree down with one!!!...i and a few friends tried with very good replica using the same metal alloys and cast in the same manner in the late 90's as an archaeological experiment, the axe was soon too blunt to cut! ) Other metal items include fragments of helmets, grieves and shields but how common they were is at present highly speculative and even if they were worn in combat but worn for display. Swords of the period display nicks along cutting edges to suggest they where used in combat against other swords and the tips of bronze spear heads have been found lodged in human bones. The style of swords also suggests warfare or combat was at times up close and very personal. Horse equipment also shows up for the first time.

Some have argued that the production of metal and metal artefacts of the period were both considered to be 'magical' processes and perhaps the weapons themselves were considered to have had magic or at least a spirit imbued in them. The source of the metal ores would have been controlled and highly protected and large scale or industrial mining susch as at the Great Orme went on.

The period saw the rise of enclosed settlements and a much greater reliance of farmed livestock i.e cattle and these would have both needed to be protected from nieghbours even if open warfare wasnt an everyday occurance but raiding would have perhaps been more common. It also saw the settlement of marginal land i.e uplands and river valleys occuring suggesting that good agricultural land was at a premium and populations were growing.
 
Metal objects were also hoarded during the period and many 'founders' hoards composed of broken bronze fragments of weapons have been found and these suggest bronze was a very highly controlled resource in society.

Trade with Europe and Britain went on and sea going vessels have been found, tidal rivers were navigated and so were our inland waterways, large dugout wooden boats have been found in places like the Humber and Trent.

Conspicious consumption through feasting and displays of giving up precious items to the 'God's' (normally in wet places like rivers and bogs) have been found in the archaeological context. The climate also appears to have been milder and wetter than today with a much greater rainfall and this has been considered to be a driving factor in a greater stratification of society and perhaps one of the drivers of structured society and all the things it brings with it i.e tribes and tribal leaders, followers, politics and squabbles.
Hope this quick overview from an ex-archaeologists and wargamer gives a bit of food for thought for the period even if his spelling is lousy

[Steve F]

It would be a great period to game and like others have mentioned the early Irish Myths could be a great source of imformation for gaming scenarios and describe heroic warfare which seems to have a similair feel to those of Homer, even though these Myths may relate to much later times.

... and especially as one reason for the similarities may be that the monks who wrote them down knew their Homer, and were influenced by "him".  Still, there is absolutely nothing wrong with gaming myth, legend or fiction while still trying to imbue it with the proper historical flavour.

[Christian]

Since reading this topic a few weeks I couldn't help but wonder... what's actually wrong with with Bernard Cornwell anyway?

[aecurtis]

I'll bite!

I have cheerfully scorned Cornwell in public since he first was published.  That's not to say I didn't buy most of the Sharpey books, but I keep them in a closet out of shame.  The Arthurian "Warlord" trilogy is equally dire, IMO.

But I think he's getting better.  The Grail Quest trilogy (setting aside a bit of silliness) captured warfare in the Hundred Years War rather well, as does the standalone "Azincourt/Agincourt".  And these past two weeks, as the missus has been in the hospital again, I have blazed through all but the most recent of the Saxon series, and those too capture warfare in the period (c.9th) very well, I think.

I didn't care for "Stonehenge" much, and would place it with the rest of his work of the last millennium.  This past decade, however, he seems to have matured considerably as a writer.

Allen

[dijit]

Since reading this topic a few weeks I couldn't help but wonder... what's actually wrong with with Bernard Cornwell anyway?

I have to agree with you Christian, especially on a forum devoted to 'adventure'; his books might not be litery masterpieces, but they are perfect pieces of pulp style adventure literature, along with many of the other greats of that genre - Wilbur Smith, Clive Cussler, et al.

[ahpincis]

Thinking Bronze age, seem to remember Bulgaria has yielded a fair number of Bronze-age artifacts........

[ahpincis]

I dare say......  !
I would love to see the place though.... nice wine.....

[OSHIROmodels]

A friend at work has just bought a 'cottage' there for £4000.

Not one of mine was it   

cheers

James

[ahpincis]

I have seen photos and I'd far rather live in something you had built James.

Let's say "it has potential" as in potential to be a shed if you carried out some serious improvements.

But what does £4000 get you these days, for Madonna maybe a handbag?


(pause as everyone raises their voices 3 octaves and says "A Handbag?")

Ha ha ha!!!!!!!! Nice one!

[janner]

I have seen photos and I'd far rather live in something you had built James.

I'm still trying to work out if that's a compliment or not 

[ahpincis]

I'm still trying to work out if that's a compliment or not 

Look on the bright side buddy!